Therapy for Highly Sensitive People & People-Pleasers

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If you’re a highly sensitive person or a longtime people pleaser, you may feel like you notice everything — shifts in tone, unspoken tension, other people’s moods — and then feel responsible for managing it.

You might be searching for therapy because you’re exhausted from overthinking, over-accommodating, and second-guessing yourself, even when nothing is “technically” wrong. On the outside, you’re thoughtful, capable, and reliable. On the inside, you’re overwhelmed, self-critical, and quietly burning out.

Many people who search for therapy for highly sensitive people and recovering people-pleasers are people who feel deeply, care deeply, and are tired of paying the price for it.

Work With Me

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You might be here because…

You replay conversations for hours (or days), wondering if you said too much — or not enough

You soften your needs, add disclaimers, or apologize preemptively so you don’t come across as “difficult”

You absorb other people’s emotions and leave interactions feeling drained or overstimulated

You struggle to say no without guilt — and then resent yourself for saying yes

You’re not “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or “overthinking it.” You don’t need thicker skin.

And you’re not broken for feeling the way you do.

When You’re Ready to Do Things Differently — With Support

Therapy doesn’t have to make you less sensitive. It can help you feel steadier, clearer, and more at ease — without losing what makes you you.

Highly sensitive people are often perceptive, empathetic, intuitive, and deeply thoughtful. But when those traits develop in environments where emotions were dismissed, boundaries weren’t modeled, or approval felt conditional, sensitivity can turn into chronic people-pleasing, anxiety, and self-doubt.
Many people pleasers learned early that staying attuned to others was the safest way to belong. Over time, that survival strategy becomes exhausting — especially when your own needs keep getting pushed aside.
Therapy for highly sensitive people and people pleasers isn’t about becoming less caring. It’s about learning how to care without abandoning yourself.
- Set boundaries without replaying the conversation for days or questioning whether you were “too much”
- Respond instead of over-explaining, apologizing, or managing everyone else’s feelings
- Understand your emotions without shaming yourself for having them
- Stop turning anger inward as self-criticism or self-doubt
- Feel more grounded in your body instead of constantly overstimulated or on edge
- Trust yourself — even when someone else is uncomfortable
These shifts don’t happen by pushing harder or fixing your personality. They happen through steady, supported work that helps your nervous system settle and your values come into focus.
My work is trauma-informed, feminist, and grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). That means we look not just at what you’re feeling, but why these patterns made sense — and how to loosen their grip without shaming or bypassing your experience.
Together, we’ll explore:
- how people-pleasing developed as a form of protection
- how sensitivity interacts with power, gender roles, and expectations
- what boundaries actually feel like in real life (not just in theory)
- how to build a relationship with yourself that feels steadier and more compassionate
This is therapy for people who are tired of shrinking — but don’t want to bulldoze their way into confidence, either.

You don’t have to become less sensitive to feel more at ease

You can feel deeply and feel steady.
You can care about others without losing yourself.
You can take up space without apologizing for it.

If you’re looking for therapy for highly sensitive people or support for people-pleasing patterns, I offer in-person therapy in Cleveland, Ohio, and online therapy across Ohio and Missouri.

A First Step — No Pressure

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Let’s Chat!

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re used to putting everyone else first. You don’t need to have it all figured out.

If you’re curious about therapy for highly sensitive people or people pleasers, reach out to see if it feels like a fit.

Book a Free 15 Minute Consultation Today

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! The goal is to help you understand your sensitivity and people-pleasing patterns, set healthy boundaries, and reclaim your energy.
Sessions are practical and collaborative. We’ll work on exercises like mindfulness, values clarification, boundary practice, and behavioral experiments. You’ll leave with strategies to apply in real life.
I deeply understand what it’s like to carry others’ expectations while trying to stay kind, empathetic, and connected. I love supporting people in honoring their sensitivity, releasing guilt, and living a life aligned with their true values.
Yes. Therapy gives you tools to notice early signs of overwhelm, set realistic limits, and practice grounding techniques. We also explore habits or people-pleasing patterns that may be contributing to burnout so you can protect your energy more effectively.

Absolutely. Online therapy allows you to engage from a comfortable, familiar space, which can reduce stress and make it easier to process emotions. I provide online sessions for clients throughout Ohio and Missouri, using the same practical strategies and exercises as in-person therapy.
Therapy helps you understand why you people-please and gives you concrete skills to act differently. We practice setting boundaries, noticing automatic patterns, and experimenting with new ways of responding in relationships — all while respecting your sensitivity and values.
Not at all. Many clients start unsure, overwhelmed, or disconnected. Therapy is about exploring, understanding, and taking small, meaningful steps forward.
Every person is different. Some notice relief from overwhelm and better boundaries in just a few sessions. Others take longer. We focus on progress, not perfection, and you’ll leave with tools you can actually use.